NDnewbeek
09-22-2009, 07:04 AM
After reading about all the problems people have had with Long Creek and Cedar Glen - I feel compelled to tell you about someone who provided me with great service, who is right here on BeeSource.
This spring (2009) I ordered two packages of small cell bees from Ruth Seaborn (in Tennessee). I sent the money ahead of time and waited for bees. Ruth was great about keeping in contact with me, she and her husband answered all my questions (I am a relatively inexperienced beekeeper) and were willing to share their experience and information.
However, after I received notification that the packages has shipped, bees didn't arrive. We found out that hard way that the Post Office doesn't fly bees anymore when the packages were returned to Ruth.
Ruth and her husband went out of their way trying to find a shipping option that DIDN'T raise the initial cost of shipping bees to me! And when one could not be found, I received a refund check from them in under two weeks with no arguments, hassles or problems. I don't know what they did with the packages - but, they essentially absorbed the mistake and didn't try to pass the expense on to me (as some of the other suppliers have tried according to the other posts).
I just thought that all should know, with the season ending and people starting to think about package bees for spring 2010. I can't say anything about Ruth's bees (and boy, I wish I had a chance to try them), but Ruth and her husband are first class. If you are within USPS ground shipping distance of Ruth in Tennessee - give her bees a try.
Mike
This spring (2009) I ordered two packages of small cell bees from Ruth Seaborn (in Tennessee). I sent the money ahead of time and waited for bees. Ruth was great about keeping in contact with me, she and her husband answered all my questions (I am a relatively inexperienced beekeeper) and were willing to share their experience and information.
However, after I received notification that the packages has shipped, bees didn't arrive. We found out that hard way that the Post Office doesn't fly bees anymore when the packages were returned to Ruth.
Ruth and her husband went out of their way trying to find a shipping option that DIDN'T raise the initial cost of shipping bees to me! And when one could not be found, I received a refund check from them in under two weeks with no arguments, hassles or problems. I don't know what they did with the packages - but, they essentially absorbed the mistake and didn't try to pass the expense on to me (as some of the other suppliers have tried according to the other posts).
I just thought that all should know, with the season ending and people starting to think about package bees for spring 2010. I can't say anything about Ruth's bees (and boy, I wish I had a chance to try them), but Ruth and her husband are first class. If you are within USPS ground shipping distance of Ruth in Tennessee - give her bees a try.
Mike